Squaring

Squaring your quilt top is a very important step. I recommend using an appropriate sized ruler... The one I use most often is a 10" square Omnigrip by Omnigrid which I use at the corners. There are so many on the market these days, it would be hard to choose just one. I aIso use my Fiskars 6" X 24" for cutting lengthy areas and you can even tape two cutting mats end to end if you need more cutting surface area. I always square my blocks as I'm piecing; it seems to save time for me. Although, there are times when I cut for a while, sew for a while, iron for a while and then trim edges for a while. If you've caught the quilting bug, the ideas are probably in the making for the next project before you're even halfway through the one you have in progress!

The finished top should be measured in three places across the width and again in three places down the length so that the average measurement can then be determined for the final size. If all three measurements come out the same, you should pat yourself on the back because rarely does that happen. If your measurements are different, add them up and divide them by three to get the average. Then square to the average where needed. A quick way to see how off-kilter a quilt is... is to fold it in half and measure the shorter sides in various places and then fold again to see just how close your corners are matching up. Now this is only for a quick glance, don't use this method for a final measurement. I just have found that when I have folded it twice, once in half lengthwise and then again width and it comes out nice and even, I know that it is close and there will likely be less trimming to do. I have fortunately, not come across too many quilts that are so far off that it causes any headaches. Hopefully yours will be that way, too!

The importance of squaring and measuring will determine both your backing and batting sizes, but also for figuring the approximate amount of binding you will need.

I may figure the approximate binding before I quilt, but as the quilt is sandwiched and stitched together, there will be some shrinkage depending on how much detail is in the quilting. As well as the type of batting used. The more dense the quilting, the more shrinkage can occur. The less dense quilting there is, the less shrinkage there will be. However; various fabrics and how the fabric was treated or not prior to sewing, will also play a role in shrinkage and distortion. Always buy the best quality you can afford when starting a new quilt, whenever possible. A properly squared quilt will be so much more attractive and give it that keepsake quality if the extra attention is given where it's needed.

Hopefully this helps, but if there are any questions, please don't hesitate to ask for help! 

Honey Hexies Tutorial

I am so glad to be getting back into the benefits of blogging. I am hoping to get a lot of fun and inspiring information on here within the coming months. I have such a variety of things I want to share and I hope I will be connecting with some of you with similar interests. I can't consider myself in no way a computer "tech" and if I could higher someone to fill in all the things that come through this head to build my blog, I could quickly fill a blog library. Otherwise, it's just little 'ol me trying to divide my time between God, family, business, farm-life & blogs, so please bare with me! So here is the beginning of my designing stage for this honey of a project! It will be a small quilt and I am making it for a friend. I read about these easy-to-do hexagon shapes and am sorry that I cannot remember who to credit them to. Others that I've seen are paper pieced and seemed to be too time consuming, so I tried these and very much like them!

It begins with the bare basic tools; fabric, a pair of scissors, something to mark with, (I used a pencil that was handy); and a circle template. (I used an ever-so versatile-use canning lid). The circle can be from any template and any size you want. The fabric can be any color you wish and this is an awesome design to use up small pieces in your fabric stash, just because, or when you need a quick gift project and don't have a lot of time.

Cut out as many circles as you want. My project is still in the making and I am placing my little "Honey Hexies" in a random pattern for now. When I get them all sewn permanently, I will include those photos. Next you fold one circle in half WST (wrong side together) and iron. Then you will open it up, turn about a 1/4 of a turn and iron again, which will give you a little X in the center.

Next, you will fold up an edge that has the wider area between the creases of your circle so that the edge meets the center X. Then iron.

You will need to work in the same direction all the way around. It doesn't matter which... right or left. I went 'clockwise' or to my left. Pick up the edge that meets the outer-most point of your creased circle and fold it up and toward the center X. Make sure that it meets the X, then iron.

The following steps are the same. Pick up the bottom (in my case, left) creased edge and bring

it up to meet the center X and then iron. Continuing around until there is just one triangle section left.

Notice that I pinned the last two sections. You can pin all the way around if you'd like, but I didn't feel it necessary.

All you have to do now, is fold up the last section, iron and tuck it under the first section. Then I turned mine over and ironed the top side to set it. There are many different designs you can use these little hexies with. I may link to some when I have time, but for now try this technique and see if you enjoy them as much as me!

My little Honey Hexies. This is one of those projects that you can cut circles for a while or iron one section on a bunch and then the next section, or you can work one at a time if that's what you like. I found it to be too repetitious doing one at a time, so I mixed it up and worked on different tasks and it seemed to keep it moving along faster. I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial. I've had fun with mine and can't wait to share the finished project!